'3° 


THE 

Barkefhire  Lady's 

GARLAND 


THE 
Barkefhire  Lady's 

GARLAND 


ANNO.  CIO.  ID. 
.CCCC.  II. 


Cop  y  r  i  g  K  t 
£f  by  tKe  £> 
MorkK's  Heaa 
PKiladelpHia 


Some  verfes  old-for  them  we  drew 
Thefe  oldijh  cuts,  though  moftly  new. 


*  t  > 


THE 
Barkefhire   Lady's  Garland 

IN  FOUR  PARTS. 


PART  I. 

Showing  Cupid' 's  Conqueft  over  a  coy  Lady  of 

Five  thousand  a  year*  &  c. 

j  tf 

PART  II. 

The  Lady's  Letter  of  a  Challenge  tojight  him 
upon  refufmg  to  wed  her  in  a  majk^  with- 
out knowing  whojhe  was. 


PART  III. 

How  they  met  by  appointment  in  a  Grove,  where 
(he  obliged  him  to  fight  or  wed  her. 

PART  IV. 

How  they  rode  together  in  her  Gilded  Coach  to 
her  noble  Seat  or  Caji/e. 


PART  I. 

Showing  Cupid's  Conquefi  over  a  coy  Lady  of 
Fivethoufandayear,  &c. 


B 


ACHELORS  of  every  Station, 

Mark  this  ftrange  &  trve  relation. 
Which  in  brief  to  you  I  bring: 
Never  was  a  Stranger  thing. 


Y 


OU  (hall  find  it  worth  the  hearing ; 
Loyal  love  is  mod  endearing, 
When  it  takes  the  deepeft  root, 
Yielding  charms  &  gold  to  boot. 


Some  will  wed  from  loue  of  treafure, 
But  the  fweeteft  joy  &  pleafure 
Is  in  faithful  love  you'll  find, 
Graced  with  a  noble  mind. 


Such  a  noble  difpofition 
Had  this  Lady,  with  fubmiffion : 
Of  whom  I  this  fonnet  write, 
Store  of  wealth  &  beauty  bright. 


8 


HE  had  left  by  a  good  Grannum, 

Full  five  thoufand  povnds  per  annum, 
Which  (he  held  without  control : 
Thus  (he  did  in  riches  roll. 


Though  (he  had  vaft  (lores  of  riches, 
Which  fome  perfons  much  bewitches, 
Yet  (he  bore  a  courteous  mind  — 
Not  the  lead  to  pride  inclin'd. 


Many  noble  perfons  courted 
This  young  Lady,  'tis  reported, 
But  their  lab'ring  proved  in  vain, 
They  could  not  her  favour  gain. 


T 


HOUGH  (he  made  fuch  ftrong  refiftance, 
Yet,  by  Cupid's  kind  afliftance, 
She  was  conquered  after  all : 
How  it  was  declare  I  (hall. 


Being  at  a  noble  wedding, 


Near  the  famous  Town  of  Redding, 


A  young  gentleman  (he  (aw, 


Who  belonged  to  the  Law. 


As  (he  view'd  his  fweet  behaviour, 
Every  courteous  carriage  gave  her 
New  additions  to  her  grief: 
Forc'd  (he  was  to  feek  relief. 


II 


p 


RIVATELY  (he  then  enquired 
About  him  fo  much  admired, 
Both  his  name  &  where  he  dwelt : 
Such  was  the  hot  flames  (he  felt. 


Then  at  night  this  youthful  Lady 
Call'd  her  Coach,  which  being  ready, 
Homeward  ftraight  (he  did  return, 
But  her  heart  in  flames  did  burn. 


12 


PART  II. 

The  Lady's  Letter  of  a  Challenge  to  fight  him 
upon  refufing  to  wed  her  in  a  majk,  with- 
out knowing  whojhe  was. 


N 


IGHT  &  morning  for  a  feafon 
In  her  clofet  (he  would  reason 
With  herfelf,  &  often  faid- 
Why  has  Love  my  heart  betray 'd? 


13 


I 


THAT  have  fo  many  flighted, 
Am  at  length  fo  well  requited. 
For  my  griefs  are  not  a  few : 
Now  I  find  what  Love  can  do. 


He  that  has  my  heart  in  keeping. 
Though  I  for  his  fake  be  weeping, 
Little  knows  what  grief  I  feel, 
But  I'll  try  it  out  with  tteel. 


For  I  will  a  challenge  fend  him. 
And  appoint  where  I'll  attend  him : 
In  a  grove  without  delay, 
By  the  dawning  of  the  day. 


14 


H 


C  (hall  not  the  leaft  difcover, 
That  I  am  a  virgin  lover, 
By  the  challenge  which  I  fend : 
But  for  juftice  I  contend. 


He  has  caufed  fad  diffraction, 
And  I  come  for  fatisfaction, 
Which  if  he  denies  to  give, 
One  of  us  (hall  ceafe  to  live. 


Having  thus  her  mind  relieved, 
She  her  letter  figned  and  fealed ; 
Now  when  it  came  to  his  hand, 
The  young  man  was  at  a  (land. 


IS 


I 


N  her  letter  (he  conjur'd  him 
For  to  meet,  &  well  affur'd  him, 
Recompence  he  muft  afford, 
Or  difpute  it  with  his  fword. 


Having  read  this  ftrange  relation, 
He  was  in  a  confternation : 
Then  advifmg  with  his  friend, 
He  perfuades  him  to  attend. 


Be  of  courage  &  make  ready, 
Faint  Heart  never  won  fair  Lady, 
In  regard  it  muft  be  fo, 
I  along  with  you  will  go. 


16 


PART  III. 

How  they  met  by  appointment  in  a  Grove,  where 
Jhe  obliged  him  to  fight  or  wed  her. 


ARLY  on  a  Summer's  morning 

When  bright  Phoebus  was  adorning 
Every  bouer  with  his  beams, 
The  fair  Lady  came,  it  feems. 


17 


T  the  bottom  of  the  mountain, 
Near  a  pleafant  cryftal  fountain, 
There  flie  left  her  gilded  coach, 
While  the  Grove  flie  did  approach, 


Cover'd  with  a  maflc,  &  walking, 
There  flie  met  her  Lover  talking 
With  a  friend  that  he  had  brought, 
Straight  (he  afk'd  him  who  he  fought. 


I  am  challenged  by  a  gallant, 
Who  refolves  to  try  my  talent : 
Who  he  is  I  cannot  fay, 
But  I  hope  to  fhow  him  play. 


18 


I 


T  is  I  that  did  invite  you, 

You  (hall  wed  me  or  Til  fight  you 
Underneath  thofe  fpreading  trees, 
Therefore  choofe  you  which  you  pleafe. 


You  will  find  I  do  not  vapour, 
I  have  brought  my  trufty  rapier, 
Therefore  take  your  choice,  fays  fhe, 
Either  fight  or  marry  me. 


Said  he,  Madam,  pray  what  mean  you? 
In  my  life  I've  never  feen  you : 
Pray  unmaflc— your  vifage  Chow, 
Then  Til  tell  you  Aye  or  No. 


19 


I 


WILL  not  my  face  uncouver 
Till  the  marriage  ties  are  over, 
Therefore,  choofe  you  which  you  will, 
Wed  me,  Sir  — or  — try  your  (kill. 


Step  within  that  pleafant  bower 
With  your  friend  one  fingle  hour : 
Strive  your  thoughts  to  reconcile, 
And  I'll  wander  here  the  while. 


While  this  charming  Lady  waited, 
The  young  bachelors  debated 
What  was  bed  for  to  be  done : 
Quoth  his  friend  — the  hazard  run. 


20 


I 


F  my  judgement  can  be  trufted, 

Wed  her  firft  — you  can't  be  worfted: 

If  (he's  rich,  you'll  rife  to  fame, 

If  (he's  poor— why,  you're  the  fame. 


He  confented  to  be  married : 
In  her  coach  they  all  were  carried 
To  a  Church,  without  delay, 
Where  he  weds  the  Lady  gay. 


The  fweet  pretty  Cupids  hover'd 
Round  her  eyes  —  her  face  was  cover'd 
With  a  mafk  — he  took  her  thus, 
Juft  for  better  or  for  worfe. 


22 


ITU  a  courteous,  kind  behaviour 


She  prefents  his  friend  a  favour, 


And  withal  difmiff  'd  him  ftraight 


That  he  might  no  longer  wait. 


23 


PART  IV. 

How  they  rode  together  in  her  Gilded  Coach  to 
her  noble  Seat  or  Caftle. 


A 


S  the  gilded  Coach  flood  ready, 
The  young  lover  6  his  Lady, 
Rode  together  till  they  came, 
To  her  houfe  of  ftate  and  fame. 


25 


HIGH  appeared  like  a  Cattle, 
Where  he  might  behold  a  parcel 
Of  young  cedars,  tall  &  ftraight, 
Juft  before  her  Palace  gate. 


Hand  in  hand  they  walk'd  together, 
To  a  hall,  or  parlour  rather, 
Which  was  beautiful  6  fair  — 
All  alone  (he  left  him  there. 


Two  long  hours  there  he  waited 
Her  return  — at  length  he  fretted, 
And  began  to  grieve  at  laft, 
For  he  had  not  broke  his  fail, 


26 


TILL  he  fat  like  one  amazed, 
Round  a  fpacious  room  he  gazed 
Which  was  richly  beautified: 
But,  alas !  he  loft  his  bride. 


There  was  peeping,  laughing,  fneering, 
All  within  the  Lawyer's  hearing : 
But  his  bride  he  could  not  fee  — 
Would  I  were  at  home,  thought  he. 


While  his  heart  was  melancholy, 
Said  the  Steward,  brifk  &  Jolly, 
Tell  me,  friend,  how  came  you  here? 
You  have  fome  defign,  I  fear. 


27 


H 


E  reply'd  — dear,  loving  mailer, 
You  (hall  meet  with  no  difafter 
Through  my  means,  in  any  cafe  — 
Madam  brought  me  to  this  place. 


Then  the  Steward  did  retire, 
Saying  that  he  would  enquire 
Whether  it  was  true  or  no: 
Never  was  love  hampered  fo. 


Now  the  lady  who  had  fill'd  him 
With  thofe  fears,  full  well  beheld  him. 
From  a  window  where  (he  dreft, 
Pleased  at  the  pleafant  jeft. 


28 


w 


HEN  (he  had  herfelf  attir'd 
In  rich  robes  to  be  admired, 
She  appeared  in  his  fight 
Like  a  moving  angel  bright. 


Sir  —  my  servants  have  related, 
How  you  have  fome  hours  waited, 
In  my  parlour  —  tell  me  who 
In  my  houfe  you  ever  knew. 


Madam— if  I  have  offended, 
It  is  more  than  I  intended ; 
A  young  lady  brought  me  here  • 
That  is  true,  the  faid,  my  dear. 


30 


I 


CAN  be  no  longer  cruel 
To  my  joy  6  only  jewel  — 
Thou  art  mine,  &  I  am  thine, 
Hand  &  heart  I  do  refign. 


Once  I  was  a  wounded  lover, 
Now,  thefe  fears  are  fairly  over 
By  receiving  what  I  gave 
Thou  art  Lord  of  all  I  have. 


Beauty,  honour,  love  &  treafure, 
A  rich,  golden  ftream  of  pleafure 
With  his  Lady  he  enjoys  — 
Thanks  to  Cupid's  kind  decoys. 


31 


N 


OW  he's  clothed  in  fine  attire, 
Not  inferior  to  a  Squire: 
Beauty,  honour,  riches,  (tore, 
What  can  man  defire  more? 


32 


NOTE. 

This  very  curious  and  original  tale,  in  part  historical, 
is  true.  At  least  the  incidents  are  facts. 

The  scene  of  the  Ballad  is  laid  in  Whitley  Park,  in 
Berkshire,  England,  known  as  "The  Abbofs  Park,  at  the 
entrance  of  Reading  Town' '  {Leland. ) 

As  the  story  runs,  William  Kendrick,  of  Whitley  Park, 
Atmr.,  was  knighted  in  1679.  He  died  in  1685.  His  only 
son,  Sir  Wm.,  succeeded  him  to  the  Baronetcy. 

The  latter  died  in  1699,  leaving  as  his  heir  a  daughter, 
the  heroine  of  this  Ballad. 

She  was  married  to  Benj.  Child,  Esq. ,  a  young  and 
handsome,  but  very  poor,  attorney  of  Reading.  The  wed- 
ding was  solemnized  in  St.  Mary's  Church,  the  bride  wear- 
ing a  very  thick  veil. 

In  1714.  Child  was  made  High  Sheriff  of  Reading. 
Possibly  ten  years  elapsed  between  the  marriage  and  his 
holding  of  office,  which  he  filled  when  he  was  about  32  years 
of  age,  for  it  cannot  be  supposed  that  he  would  have  been 
elevated  to  such  a  high  position  so  soon  after  his  marriage 
from  a  previously  obscure  and  humble  personage. 

The  earliest  edition  of  the  Ballad  known  is  a  broadside 
having  a  picture  of  Queen  Anne,  rudely  cut,  but  apparently 
a  fair  likeness.  The  author  is  unknown.  The  Ballad  was 
sung  to  the  air  of  ' '  The  Royal  Forester. ' ' 

Somewhere  there  is  a  French  version  of  the  i6th  cen- 
tury; this  casts  some  doubt  on  its  English  origin. 


33 


Here  comes  to  a  clofe  "The 
Berkfhire  Lady's  Garland/'  or  a 
Merry  tale  of  how  Cupid  con- 
quer'th  all.  Nowfetup&adorn'd 
with  ftrange  fculptures,  a  few 
colour'd,  engraven  by  many  1 1| 
very  curioufly  to  look  at. 

This  is  No.    8  of  one  hundred 

on  paper  &  three  on  flieeplkin  — 

the  blocks   fince  flafhed.    Em- 

prynt'd  under  the  hands  of 

E.  S.   P.,    the   Monk's 

Head,  in  Phila.,  Pa.. 

this  month  of 

October, 

1902. 


A     000  065  400     4 


